Veteran broadcaster Gayle King has publicly addressed swirling rumours about her impending departure from CBS News, firmly stating her intention to remain with the network. The CBS Mornings co-anchor made the comments while attending the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York on Wednesday.
"I'm Still There": King Addresses Her Future
Speaking to the Daily Mail at the event, held at Cipriani 25 Broadway, the 70-year-old host dismissed speculation about her exit. "I'm still there, I'm planning to be there," King declared when questioned about her career plans. When pressed for further details on the situation, she responded playfully, "No, what do you know?"
King, who has been a fixture on CBS's morning show in various roles since 2012, was elegantly dressed in a red blazer and trousers from the label Favorite Daughter. She was at the event to present an award to the brand's founders, Erin and Sara Foster.
Restructuring and Rumours at CBS
The anchor's comments follow an October report by Variety which suggested King was expected to leave the morning show next year. Her current contract is reportedly set to conclude in May 2026. These rumours have emerged amidst sweeping changes at the network under its formidable new Editor-in-Chief, Bari Weiss.
In a statement to Variety, CBS said, "There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future." Some industry insiders have speculated she may transition to a role producing specials, similar to former anchor Norah O'Donnell.
A Network in Turmoil
CBS News and its parent company, Paramount, are undergoing significant upheaval. Nearly 100 positions at CBS News and a further 2,000 across Paramount are being eliminated. Weiss has warned staff of an "enormously difficult" period ahead.
Specific casualties of the cuts include:
- The entire Race and Culture Unit, established in July 2020.
- The team behind CBS Saturday Morning, including anchors and its executive producer.
- The streaming editions of both CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings.
This restructuring occurs as CBS Mornings struggles in the ratings, averaging 1.8 million viewers in late October, behind its main competitors. Despite this, King remains a prestigious asset for the network, not least due to her decades-long friendship with media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
At the awards event, King also shared lighter moments, revealing her favourite item from Oprah's famous favourites list is Sara Blakely's Sneex hybrid footwear. "I think I bought every damn colour," she admitted. When asked about her holiday plans, she simply replied, "eating."
